Question

In right triangle ABC, where c is the hypotenuse, a = 6, c = 10, and b = x -2. Solve for x.

Answer 1

a^2+b^2=c^2

36+b^2=100

36+(x-2)^2=100

(x-2)^2=64


`\sqrt{ (x-2)^(2) }= √(64)`

|x-2|=8

Solve:

x-2=8 and x-2=-8

x=10 and x=-6

Distance/length cannot be negative so the answer is 10

10-2=8

The length of side b is 8 units